Then a cab driver pulled up and engaged me in conversation. He wanted $300 MXN (about $20 CDN) to take me to the ferry terminal. “Nope,” I said. “Too much.”

We finally agreed on $150 MXN. Methinks this was first visit to Cancun too! He had no idea where I wanted to go (Ultramar ferry near Puerto Juarez).

He drove right past the ferry sign. How pissed he was when I asked him to turn around. Then, he tried to drop me nearby, but not nearby enough to the terminal for my suitcase. When he turned around for the second time, he said the fare would now be $200 MXN.

“No,” I hollered back at him. “Your mistake.” He cursed and spit out the window. Lovely.

The ride ended with him accepting the agreed upon $150 MXN. And chuckling.

Bloody hell. I hate dealing with these guys.

Such is a typical day for a tourist in Mexico. Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose del Cabo, Playa del Carmen. They’re all the same. This is the stuff they do. Every tourist destination in the world has its share of scams.

I’ll make the money up somewhere else on the trip. Maybe use Uber to the Cancun bus terminal for my journey to Playa del Carmen.